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Fri March 29 2024

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Liverpool to set up commercial housing company

21 Jun 16 Liverpool City Council is planning to set up a new company to develop housing for sale and rent on a commercial basis.

A report to the council’s cabinet meeting on Friday 24th June is asking permission for the city council establish a local authority owned, commercially driven ‘for profit’ company that would develop houses.

The council’s aim is to provide new routes into home ownership for people by developing new starter homes, rent-to-buy properties and shared ownership schemes. The company would also act as a commercial, private landlord. These would not be ‘council houses’. Nor would the new company rent properties out on a social housing basis or seek to compete with housing associations.

The city council is promising to maximise construction employment opportunities for local firms and apprentices.

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said: “We have done an awful lot to increase the range and choice of housing in the city over the last few years by working with housing associations and developers, as well as through our innovative Homes for a Pound scheme.

“Our success in creating more than 5,000 new homes with private and public sector partners has improved life for thousands of residents and is generating valuable council tax income to help offset cuts in our funding from central government.

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“However, despite this work, I am acutely aware that there are still far too many people simply can’t get a foot on to the housing ladder in the areas where they want to live.

“This is an opportunity to use our knowledge and land to build properties which boosts employment, while at the same time helping people into their first home.”

Councillor Frank Hont, cabinet member for housing, said: “This is not a return to the days of the council being a social landlord providing mass housing. The company will operate commercially but be very focused on social value and social responsibility and won’t compete with Housing Associations.

“This is not about competing with other sectors but about filling gaps in the market which the private sector is not doing, and increasing the quality of the housing market.”

Over the last five years several local authorities including Thurrock, Gateshead and Brentwood have entered the housing market on a commercial basis. Reports suggest that more than 50 councils in England are in the process of developing housing companies.

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